You picture French triple-creams or Swiss Gruyères. Forget that.
The U.S. cheese game is strong. It is growing. And the judges at the 2026 American Cheese Conference know it.
They picked a winner from the Americas. The spot went to Winnimere. Made by Jasper Hill Farm in Vermont. It took top prize over 1,600 entries.
Here is why this specific soft cheese matters. And why you should be looking for it.
Why Winnimere Won Best in Show
The 2026 gathering happened in Louisville. July 7 through the 10th.
Over 200 creameries submitted. The field was huge. Jasper Hill Farm didn’t just win a ribbon. They won best of show.
Blakesville Creamery came in second with their Artze cheese from Wisconsin. Urban Stead Cheese took third with their ‘Nati Gouda out of Ohio.
But Winnimere stood apart. It is not like the mild soft cheeses you usually find.
Ali Domrongchai, the Associate Groceries Editor, tried it once. She remembers it clearly a year later. The texture is thick yet smooth. The flavor is loud. Pronounced. It sticks with you.
How to Eat Jasper Hill Farm’s Winner
This isn’t just another brie. Don’t mistake it for one.
It mimics cheeses from the Jura Mountains. Think Comté. But it does something traditional. It is a winter-only cheese.
Jasper Hill Farm uses raw winter cow’s milk. The cows eat hay. The milk is rich.
The cheese sits for 60 days. Then comes the spruce bark. They wrap the wheels in strips of it. That adds a woodsy note.
By the time it is done, it is spoonably soft.
“This thick-yet-smooth cheese left an印象 on my taste buds even a year after taste it.”
Do not cut this with a knife. Peel back the spruce bark. Grab a spoon. Dive in.
Pair it right. Try maple flavors. Bacon works too. Potato chips? Sure. Or a pet nat wine. That sparkling natural stuff cuts the richness well.
Where to Buy This Award-Winning Cheese
You might wonder where to find Winnimere.
It is more popular at local cheese shops. You might find it at Whole Foods too. But the small shops are your best bet.
Jasper Hill Farm had a big night. Five awards total.
Four first-place wins.
- Cabot Clothbound Black Label
- Moses Sleeper
- Willoughby
- Winnimere
And a third-place finish somewhere. The rest of the awards went to butters and cheddars. Check the full list if you need validation for your grocery cart.
The industry is shifting. The best stuff isn’t just across the ocean anymore. It’s here. In Vermont. In Kentucky. In Ohio.
Look for the spoon. And maybe skip the knife.
